Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Old Orchard Beach, ME

Just a stones throw away from Old Orchard Beach, fantastic Sandy Maine beach. Staff was friendly. Only thing I would say is there were a lot of people! A hot tourist destination, if you are looking for something in the deep woods not the best, but family camping and close activities! Yes! Drive in close to camp as well.

Old Orchard Beach is a fun, family-oriented campground located in the fun little beach town of Old Orchard Beach. Old Orchard is known for their amusement park, arcade, pier, fun downtown, and expansive beach with seven miles of room to walk. Here you can stroll along the streets listening to the melodic sounds of an arcade, buy an airbrushed t-shirt and eat pier fries and fried dough. And the best thing is there is a trolley that takes you from the campground to the beach so you don’t have to deal with parking. 

When the summer season is in full swing, there is lots to do in the campground and at the nearby Atlantic Ocean beach. There are lots of amenities in the campground like a basketball court, Wiffle ball field, horseshoes, badminton, playgrounds, arcade, swimming pools and hot tub, group bonfire, and dog park. The campground is quite large and divided into a variety of sections, some areas are all seasonal campers and others are for transients. The campground offers RV sites, cabin rentals, park model sites, and simple tent sites. We liked the sections in the back (Bear Brook and Black Forest) which are set away from the entrance and the majority of activities. We visited in the off-season but can only image the park gets pretty busy especially in the front section where the swimming pool, arcade, camp store, and other activities are located. The campground is gated which limits who can come into the park. If you want to have guests, plan on shelling out a bit of cash as it is $8/day for kids and $10 for adults and$12 for overnight guests. 

Our gravel site was perfectly level with no potholes and the roads leading to our site were easy to navigate in our 45’ motorhome. The patio was gravel and there was some grass between campsites. Our picnic table was clean and not made of old rotten wood with sagging benches. There was not much shade at our site which was fine with us because it was October when we visited and wanted the sun. We were able to pick up wifi at our site because we were close to a tower. Our Verizon phone and hotspot worked great as did the parks cable television. The campground is just one mile from Old Orchard Beach and close to Route 1 which is the main corridor leading up and down the Maine coast. 

The nearby town of Biddeford has some great restaurants(Palace Dinner, Run of the Mill Public House and Brewery, and Dunston Tab and Table). While the campground is large enough for a good long walk, we prefer to walk the wooded trails at Ferry Beach State Park. If you are looking for something for kids to do there is Funtown Splashtown which is a large water and amusement park and you can get discount tickets at the campgrounds camp store

This campground is four miles from Old Orchard Beach which is a trip. It is a throw-back from your childhood when carnival rides and funnel cakes made you so happy. The town smells like fried food and pizza and shopping consists of t-shirts and beach chairs. Saco is a town that has seen recent revitalization where old buildings are transformed to bustling breweries and storefronts are filled with galleries and boutiques. Not too far from the campground are the towns of Kennebunkport, Wells, and Biddeford and a little farther will have you in Ogunquit or Portland.  

The campground sits among tall pine trees which offer nice shade helps alleviate some of the feel of a crowded campground. There are a myriad of sites including rustic tent, cabins, and full hook-up RV sites that accommodate the largest of RV’s. Wifi and cable are available and sites have picnic tables and fire pits.

One of the nice features was the on-site restaurant which claims to be famous for their “blueberry pancakes” and also offers Belgian waffles, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs. I admit the pancakes were delicious and loved eating them campfire side.  Amenities include a heated pool, hot tub (adults only), basketball, volleyball, playground, and various activities like s’mores, crafts, ice cream socials and more. This campground is very kid-friendly so if that is not your thing don’t come in the summer. The restrooms and showers were really clean and you constantly saw yellow-shirted people busily working. 

In the summer there is a shuttle that takes you to the beach which is convenient. During the shoulder season dogs are allowed on the beach but not the summer. A great place to explore is Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge. There is a small welcome center and trails that wind through the marsh with some beautiful views (and dog-friendly).  If you have kids and like water parks, Funtown Splashtown USA is a popular place especially on warm days and just down the street.

We loved our lunch at the Run of the Mill Public House and Brewery which has a varied food menu with creative selections and good beer. The restaurant is in an old mill and retained some of the interesting original architectural features. If you like to paddle, head to the Saco River Marsh. Here you can put in your own boats or rent some and paddle through beautiful marsh – just watch the tides. There is also a parking lot for an extensive walking/biking trail.

We tent camped at Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA. The staff was very friendly and when I called to book the site, they assisted in helping us pick out the nicest campsite. This KOA is close to Old Orchard Beach, the city of Portland, and towns of Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Wells and Kittery Outlets. We enjoy staying here and would highly recommend it to others.

Family friendly, very clean, big camping spots, has pool and hot tub. Close to Old Orchard beach

Great location trolley will pick you up from the campground and take you to Old Orchard Beach. Very friendly staff. Kid activities were done regularly. Pizza and breakfast is very good if you do lunch want to cook. Outdoor movies were fun.

Staff is very friendly and helpful. CALL instead of booking online to get a good spot. We didn’t and had a crappy spot but we know for next time. Convenient to Old Orchard Beach (trolley will take you there - door to door). Bathrooms and showers clean and modern. Store reasonably price and “rangers” deliver wood, food, and other stuff.

This is a very large campground that offers all kinds of stays from seasonal to tents. They have cabins and all sizes of sites for all types of camping. Most look level. Fill hook-up is available. About half mile walk to old orchard beach. Plenty of comfort stations with laundry available. Pool is nice. Pass code for entry. Nice area.

This is a very busy campground, with RVers coming and going nearly daily. The sites are close to each other. Fortunately the site we had was shaded by trees during the hot days of July — half the sites have no trees, so beware of where you book. Good facilities and well-run for a very large operation. The best part was the location, being close to several beaches in the Old Orchard Beach area.

This park has so many amenities and things to do that it is a destination in itself and you and your kids will be busy the entire time. The camp store is fully stocked, there are fishing ponds, golf cart rentals, numerous pools and hot tubs, daily activities, weekly poolside entertainment, playgrounds, mini golf, café, game room, arcade, and more. The staff is super friendly and helpful and the park is very clean and well-maintained. 

We like to stay in the “south section” which tends to have less kids because it is farther away from the “action.” Plus, it is close to the Little River Complex which is an adult-only section with pool, hot tubs, café, bathhouse, and laundry(which has oversized machines). The complex is fairly new and very clean and modern.  This section is also the closest to the dog park (which is just ok - it has lots of trees so there is not much runny room and could be bigger but at least they can be off-leash.  If you come in early spring, you can take your dog to the Pine Point Beach and can be off-leash).  Our campsite was level with a grassy patio, picnic table, fire pit, 50A FHU and cable.  Roads in the park are gravel and can get dusty but the staff did use dust-abatement issues that worked pretty well.  Some sites have gravel patios so be careful what you choose if you want grass.  The kayak/paddle board, canoe launch is great because the river is impounded so you never have to worry about the tide going out while you are paddling.  While the park is big enough to go for a long walk, just down the road is a public biking/hiking trail and goes through the Scarborough Marsh.  

You will definitely want to take the short drive (or the free shuttle service offered at the campground) to the nearby beach and visit the beachy boardwalk town of Old Orchard Beach and pick up some famous Pier Fries and visit the amusement park and arcade. The tiny town of Pine Point is a great place to watch the sunset and pick up dinner and a drink at Bayley’s Bait Shed Restaurant. Check out Bayley’s Lobster Pound for fresh seafood, wine, and other prepared food items. 

This campground may not be for everyone because it is huge with lots of people, cars, and kids running around. The other downside is there is not very much privacy between sites. Nightly rates in peak season are outrageous but you can find much cheaper rates if you stay in the shoulder season or go with 30 amp electric and no sewer. You definitely are paying for all the amenities and activities.

Walking distance to Old Orchard Beach, this campground has something for everyone. While the site are fairly small and crowded, it harldy matters because of all of the amenities at the campground. The staff is vigilant about keeping quiet hours, but allow you to have fun at the same time. A shuttle will take you to the town beach or you can walk/ride bikes the .25 miles. We had a large group ranging in age from 3 to 53 and everyone had a blast!

This campground was very clean with friendly staff. There are many amenities and it is comfortable for families. We were in a tent and enjoyed it but there are also many mobile homes and RVs. The walk to Old Orchard Beach was about a 10 minute walk from our site and the town and shops nearby are cute and classic. We were there the first week of June and could walk up and get a site that day but they said that late June you need to schedule your stay in advanced.

Absolutely beautiful! Clean, quiet, had a shaded site near the dog park which was awesome for us with our pups

I came here last year with my dog.  We only stayed two nights.  It was his first time camping, so I made a note in my reservation request that I'd like a fairly remote site - just in case he got loud.  They put me in the perfect site, near the dog park (they have a dog park!).  When the forecast changed to thunderstorms, they let me switch my dates without any hassle.  The location is convenient for Newburyport, Portsmouth, and the Seacoast.   We ended up having a lovely stay.

Just a note, I took my dog for a walk around the campground and noticed that many of the other sites were rather close together - including the cabins.  Some people don't mind, and even enjoy, close neighbors.  If you're like me, however, you'll want to ask for a more remote site.

One more thing to note; I booked through Rover Pass and ended up paying them a fee.  Next time I'll contact the park directly.

I'm looking forward to another trip soon!

Seriously, KOA’s have the friendliest staff ever! My sister and I arrived late Friday evening- after 3+ hours of Boston, holiday traffic- and were promptly greeted by a bubbly employee who happily lead us to our “kabin.” Despite a small snafu getting into our accommodations, she was incredibly gracious and helpful.

K16 was a single room cabin that could comfortably sleep 4, furnished with a full-sized bed and a bunk bed. We were shocked to find that the cabin had electrical, lights and a small heater. Being a chilly fall night, this was greatly appreciated. The Saco/Old Orchard KOA really provided a good compromise between camping and getting a hotel. I may be adventurous and willing to brave the elements, but have to keep the comfort of those traveling with me in mind!

Most of the grounds were dense- comprised primarily of RVs and various cabins. Though there were a few tent sites. My sister and I lucked out with our cabin and the cul-de-sac it was in. It overlooked the woods and was a bit more secluded than many of the other sites. KK15, K3, K2 and K1 are great options as well, located along the wooded edges of the grounds. Tent sites 96, P5, P4, P3, P2 and P1 were also among the best spots, offering full shade and privacy.

We definitely enjoyed our stay-the cabin was comfortable, facilities were clean, and we were within 20 minutes of Portland and 10 minutes to Old Orchard Beach. Not to mention-the on-site Merry Moose cafe was definitely a nice touch! I can’t say this was truly “camping”-but it wasn’t bad!

Reservations online was super easy, and the hosts are great. They allowed me to drive around and look at the other campsites as I was needing a site with limited/no tree coverage. Plus I’m still learning how to handle my van, so was looking for a very flat spot. Bathrooms are nice and clean, the grounds are nice and clean, and the dog park is a great bonus.

Consider the Thousand Trails membership when booking this site. Our annual membership fees basically covered what it would cost to camp here for two weeks.

The campground has good proximity to Orchard Beach and Portland. However, the spots are pretty tight, and the WiFi is awful away from the registration office. We were in the wooded area, but those camping on the outskirts seemed able to utilize their Starlink.

The dog park and pool were small but nice. The bathroom facilities were pretty good, though they weren't cleaned as often as they should be.

This was a nicely shaded and quiet park, even with kids running around. There was a nice pool for the kiddos, as well as kayaks and water toys for the pond, which looks like a lake. Great sized dog parks - 2 connected to each other. People are super nice. Sites are pretty close together.

Staff super nice. Wifi not great and we have starlink - lots of obstruction so if you need uninterrupted access I’d check with the front desk to see if there are clearer areas for your satellite. Laundry was a bit of a trek from our site, but not a huge deal. Overall pleasant stay, though!

We stayed for two nights at Wakeda with our travel trailer. The paved roads were a plus, as was a very level campsite. The majority of campers seemed to be there for the season and were their own little community. 

Our full hookup site was very close to other sites, so unfortunately we had to deal with some noise issues. We could hear our neighbors loudly talking at 2 AM, and also were treated to the sound of the same neighbor's dog barking for hours during the when they left him alone. That being said, this was not the fault of the campground itself.

Wakeda's proximity to Hampton Beach was awesome -- a less than 15-minute drive for us. We also enjoyed the dog park. It was spacious and well maintained.